The biggest change over the years that I wish they had not made was the removal of Hastings and the creation of Ireland.
Old Footage Of The Park
- Thread starter Chris
- Start date
The 'natural looking state' of the statue was tarnish from being out in the elements, and it not being removed. Somewhere between now and then they refinished the statue, and either put a protective coat on them, or just regularly remove the tarnish now. This was also done with roof-tops and other statues in the park, particularly in Rhinefeld, made out of the same material. Whether or not the current color is the Arch Angel's natural color(not tarnished) or was painted on, I actually think it goes better with what La Belle is right now. Especially in the area it is now placed. A tarnished green statue would not go well against the new Backdrop of La Belle, IMO.
That video really makes it clear that back then, decorations were done in a way as to make it seem like you had been transported to some other place and just happened across all this neat or unusual things (the tent at Pompeii, the seemingly-untamed growth around the waterfall beneath Big Bad Wolf, all the props at Nessie). These days, it's much more "here is a sanitized representation of what this cool other thing might look like."
I try not to be all "things were so much better back in the old days!" but man. The decorations looked so much cooler then.
I try not to be all "things were so much better back in the old days!" but man. The decorations looked so much cooler then.
That video does give me a nostalgic vibe, and while I don't want to say the park was better then or worse now, I do want to say that I really did love the early 2000's a lot. The music itself from that time is very different from today. Even the classical music they play in England this past year versus back then sounded completely different.
To me its all about the BGM (background music), why and who the hell thought it was a good idea to crank up the volume and change it to the current Euro pop? It's the one thing that I think could change easily that would have the most effect on guest experience. I'm sure someone thought they needed to try something "new" to capture the youth market or some such nonsense. *sigh* Change is inevitable, but change for the sake of change is what bothers me. I don't know anyone, young or old that prefers the new BGM. Just admit it was a bad idea and go back. What ever happened admitting you made a mistake? Ugh.... damnit I don't want to start a rant. I'm going back to work.
^ Ehh outside of Illuminights, the only area that has any "Europop" playing is France and that soundtrack has pretty much been in place since AB owned the park.
New France and England are the only two areas with different tracks from the 2001 video, but the soundtracks are largely the same in all the other areas. New France doesn't really play anything "pop" (it's largely folk music so it fits the theming) and England has a new soundtrack thanks to London Rocks.
I will say I'm not a huge fan of the park cranking up the volume on the music though. Its not too fun walking around the park and having to yell at the person next to you thanks to the loud music.
New France and England are the only two areas with different tracks from the 2001 video, but the soundtracks are largely the same in all the other areas. New France doesn't really play anything "pop" (it's largely folk music so it fits the theming) and England has a new soundtrack thanks to London Rocks.
I will say I'm not a huge fan of the park cranking up the volume on the music though. Its not too fun walking around the park and having to yell at the person next to you thanks to the loud music.
Background Music is one of the biggest aspects there is to theming. It's also one of the common aspects of theming the GP pays attention to, as they kind of have to unless they're deaf. Not only that, if you can convey a typically unknown type of music to the GP they suddenly become interested and it is all but proven to stay in their memories longer due to its uniqueness. I find this a lot in the GP. My friends, whenever they hear something classical, or something European like they will verbally admit that it reminds them of Busch Gardens. That is the kind of connection you want your visitors to feel, something that will draw their minds back to the place, that will remind them of their memories and experiences at the park.
With that being said, I have brought multiple friends back to Busch Gardens to experience the LR re-theme in Banbury. Only occasionally did I get a comment on the millions of tacky Union Jacks, the plywood bus or neon colors. But every time someone asked "what the heck are they playing?!" Banbury especially was one of the park's soundtracks that is most memorable and known among the GP. When you take away something as notorious as that and do a complete 180 to playing rock music, you are taking away people's memories, you are robbing them of what they loved and remembered about the park and replacing it with memories they can hear on the radio. Suddenly, the park will no longer become special or distinct and soon they will loose the one thing that always made them recall the times they cherished at the park.
I can assure you the park doesn't play Euro pop or rock or whatever in any other country outside of Banbury. Aquitaine has lyricals, and having weekly Culture lessons in French and commonly listening to different genres of French music, nothing they play in Aquitaine is derived from the current popular culture music. Does that mean I completely accept it? No, not really. In my opinion during the main season hamlet music should only be instrumental. No background music during the main season should ever play such a big role as to being lyrical, it's too distracting and in your face whereas instrumental is in the background and lightly playing a role in your experience, but is still prominent. For this reason I see Banbury Cross(2014), Aquitaine, Killarney, and New France to have the most un-fitting and ill-chosen Hamlet music.
There's also a problem with New France that it seems to be the same two or three songs playing all the time.
With that being said, I have brought multiple friends back to Busch Gardens to experience the LR re-theme in Banbury. Only occasionally did I get a comment on the millions of tacky Union Jacks, the plywood bus or neon colors. But every time someone asked "what the heck are they playing?!" Banbury especially was one of the park's soundtracks that is most memorable and known among the GP. When you take away something as notorious as that and do a complete 180 to playing rock music, you are taking away people's memories, you are robbing them of what they loved and remembered about the park and replacing it with memories they can hear on the radio. Suddenly, the park will no longer become special or distinct and soon they will loose the one thing that always made them recall the times they cherished at the park.
I can assure you the park doesn't play Euro pop or rock or whatever in any other country outside of Banbury. Aquitaine has lyricals, and having weekly Culture lessons in French and commonly listening to different genres of French music, nothing they play in Aquitaine is derived from the current popular culture music. Does that mean I completely accept it? No, not really. In my opinion during the main season hamlet music should only be instrumental. No background music during the main season should ever play such a big role as to being lyrical, it's too distracting and in your face whereas instrumental is in the background and lightly playing a role in your experience, but is still prominent. For this reason I see Banbury Cross(2014), Aquitaine, Killarney, and New France to have the most un-fitting and ill-chosen Hamlet music.
There's also a problem with New France that it seems to be the same two or three songs playing all the time.
oldtimer said:
I agree the volume level for some areas have gotten louder; which I think was done because they want you to pay more attention to the music for whatever reason. However, being background music it should be exactly that - in the background. Background music really shouldn't be noticed unless you pay attention for it. That is the point of background music. (Normal) People don't go to the park for the music alone. Music should be complimentary and serene.
As for your reference to Euro-Pop, that isn't the genre that gets played. I actually feel bad for that genre because people who hate the music in the park today always blame Euro-Pop when not that many songs are really Euro-Pop. Think back to Illuminights, that was when they really had Euro-Pop.
The new music they play now is much more lyrical as mentioned. I personally am fine with it. I liked the music from now and back then. However, I didn't really notice much difference in just the sounds played in the park until watching the video. The sounds do feel quite different than what is played today.
Thinking back, I do believe Festa, Italy and Pompeii are simply the same. Some of the music in Oktoberfest and Germany sounds different, if not a different song, a different beat. New France has switched from your banjo music to more lyrical country which I do detest mostly because of the lyrics. France has switched to a modern sophisticated sound which I think fits the new La Belle and Crepe & Coffee stand. Ireland has s less mystical and river dance sound and more generic bagpipes and commercialized Ireland sound. England seems to have a different set of classical music they played prior and post the summer. It didn't sound like how it did. As for the summer, I enjoyed the music because I love that genre and I don't mind it playing in the background. I am sure many would disagree with me but it's whatever.
Really I'm not sure if the exact songs are different, but I do know the vibe, beat, and feeling has definitely changed.
I think my biggest issue is the music that includes vocals. When lyrics are included in the songs, I think they lose their "background" value and forfeit subtlety. I've always felt that instrumental music simply worked its way into the theme, enhancing it, while the vocals "stick out" more. The instrumental music always felt like it was "part" of a hamlet's theme and felt like a reflection of its musical culture, the new music in Aquitaine, for instance, feels like the same type of modern ambient music that one would hear at a French restaurant.
Take a trip back to 1989 Busch Gardens, The Old Country!
While this video is filled with plenty of awkward moments as your pretty much third wheeling with this random family you get to see some marvelous sights. I would highly recommend watching this footage as their are some incredible pieces of history tucked in their. And no, this is not my footage.
While this video is filled with plenty of awkward moments as your pretty much third wheeling with this random family you get to see some marvelous sights. I would highly recommend watching this footage as their are some incredible pieces of history tucked in their. And no, this is not my footage.
Wow... the stocks in the old Hastings location, Threadneedle Faire, the wooded surroundings of Le Mans, the round stage and enjoyable show in the Festhaus, the Monster ride, the ponderous cacophony of Gladiator's Gauntlet, the extant trees and terrified residents of the King's Menagerie, and so much more...! Great find.
Oh, also: to within an accuracy of 1 day, that footage dates from 6 months before Taylor Swift was born. Now you have that knowledge in your brain and there is nothing you can do about it.
(Having 2 young daughters condemns the mind to undesired expertise in certain fields of study.)
Oh, also: to within an accuracy of 1 day, that footage dates from 6 months before Taylor Swift was born. Now you have that knowledge in your brain and there is nothing you can do about it.
(Having 2 young daughters condemns the mind to undesired expertise in certain fields of study.)
That video is gold. Loved being able to actually see things that nobody really took decent pictures of back then. This is the only really good look at the games in Threadneedle which would be pretty cool if they could bring back at least one of them. You also get a really excellent look at the trams and how much has changed from that view of the parking lots. All those trees! Another look at the Highland Stables and the original fencing. A great look at the Royal Preserve Petting Zoo, which I can't believe a child would chase and pick up a poor defensively chicken.
Really great video!
Really great video!
Sometimes when I look at these videos I start to look at it in a different way. Instead of looking at it as things that have changed, I start to look at the things that haven't changed. Particularly in this Video, San Marco stands out to me most. Other than the evolution of the landscaping in Da Vinci's Garden of Inventions, it's hard for me to find something that has changed. And that's definitely not a bad thing. It's actually particularly interesting.
^You couldn't hear "That's Amore" by Dean Martin around Il Teatro di San Marco back then. Oh, and there were no styrofoam Statues of Liberty. 
Wow, that video was amazing.
Also, for the record, I used to be a beast at that frog game.
Also, for the record, I used to be a beast at that frog game.
That was some great footage of Gladiators Gauntlet. Plus a shot down the old short cut from the swings to the carousel.